Monday, 9 October 2017 at 14:00 (BST)

Ticket Information

Event Details

Title: Mind over Marathon and Beyond

Event Date: 9 October 2017

Time: 14:00-15:00

Description:

A chance to hear a panel discussion with participants of the BBC’s “Mind over Marathon” programme, which explored the experiences of a group of people with mental health issues and their journey towards the London Marathon.

Speaker Biographies

Claudia BarnettI live and work in Brighton, and I'm a mental health advocate, aspiring writer and travel publicist (and Bournemouth University graduate!). I was one of ten participants of the groundbreaking BBC documentary "Mind Over Marathon" which followed people with varying mental health issues as they trained for the London Marathon. Following the documentary, I continue to share my story and promote mental health discussion, to empower people to share their stories without shame or censorship. I'm also very passionate about the practise of exercise, mindfulness and everyday self-care for managing mental health issues. At the age of 17, I was diagnosed with OCD. The signs were there all along–obsessive worrying, uncontrollable rituals and crippling anxiety–but somehow, it still came as a surprise. In the week leading up to my A Level exams, I went from being an outgoing, ambitious and confident young woman with a picture-perfect childhood, to a terrified shell of a person, not able to eat or shower, literally overnight. Suddenly, my life of carefree, teenage abandon was over, and I had no idea why - or how to fix it. After years of struggling to come to terms with what was going on in my head, and trying to piece together the story of I had instantaneously gone "mad", I finally told her doctor what was wrong; and I've not stopped talking about mental health ever since!

Jake TylerI'm Jake. Im 31, and I live with depression. In April last year, a few days after my 30th birthday, I lay in bed in my London flat, terrified of what I might do to myself if I left it. Depression had come and gone throughout my adult life but I'd never experienced anything like this. I'd done an almost perfect job of hiding my 'off' days from everybody up to this point, but there was no hiding it this time. Eventually I let someone else in, my mum, who convinced me to let somebody else in, my therapist, and after that, a ball began rolling. A ball I didn't even know was there. Depression's greatest trick is convincing you're alone in your misery, because it's unlike any misery experienced by any other human being, ever. When in fact, the 'feeling alone in your never ending sadness' club is the largest club in the world. Everybody's welcome. But when members find courage to open up and talk about it, it becomes a different club altogether. I want to talk about THAT club, and the boundless support it offers its members. When I decided to walk the length and breadth of mainland Great Britain to promote the positive effects of movement on mental health, I had to first come clean with EVERYBODY. These feelings id been ashamed of for so long - the weeks and months that I lost under a duvet, my obsession with suicide, the simple fact that I just couldn't cope with life. Everything. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, and the best thing I ever did. The positivity in the response engulfed me and, almost immediately, I didn't feel alone anymore.Over the past year I have walked nearly 2000 miles around the most beautiful parts of mainland Great Britain to promote movement as a tool to manage depression, and to try and inspire people to take control of their mental health in a positive, open, exercise led way. Walking, initially, helped me feel like I was in control. And after 6 months walking the south coast of England and Wales, I got approached to take part in a BBC ONE documentary called Mind Over Marathon. It was during filming that I fell in love with to the concept of movement and community, two things that work so perfectly together and an idea that has stuck with me and I've been incorporating on the second half of my walk.

Georgina LloydI always look back at 3 significant events from 2015 and early 2016 which led me to seeking help. Though these events were triggers, it is apparent that I have been suffering for over 15-20 years. I have always been a high achiever and as a result I have put myself under continuous pressure to succeed. Academically, I did well at university before going on to become a lecturer. After a successful two years I gave up this career and I applied to become a Police Officer. Whilst waiting for intake, I spent time gaining further experience as a Pharmaceutical Representative. I have a fear of failure, due to the demands which I place on myself. I have been described as having an ‘A’ type personality where I strive for perfection.At the end of March 2016 I made the decision to seek help from my doctor. I made the appointment as I was physically tired. I did not see what was mentally happening to me. It was during this first GP appointment that everything came out and I literally just sobbed for 30 minutes. I remember arguing with the GP who told me not to go to work the following day. I wanted to go as I did not want to be seen as a failure or weak so I ended up going. It was mid-day when I finally said to my line manager that I had to leave. That was 15 months ago.Stigmas stop people from seeking help. Quite often people are too proud to admit they are suffering, or they don’t want people thinking they are weak or being told simply to ‘just get over it’. Sometimes, people do not see it in themselves until they hit crisis point and then do not know where to turn. There is still a massive disparity with physical health. A mental illness cannot be seen and therefore sometimes not believed. Thankfully, with all of the positive work being done to support mental health and with all of the well-known faces speaking out about their battles, the shift is changing but there is still a long way to go.I have had fantastic support from my GP and my workplace. I completed a 10 week mindfulness programme organised through work and some local courses on managing depression and stress through NHS.Taking part in the BBC 1 documentary Mind over Marathon encouraged me to talk, not only to the crew but to the nation. This forced me to me open and honest with family and friends as the press and publicity started to build. Speaking out is the best thing I have done and my life has changed considerably for it. Not only have I now run the London Marathon as part of the TV documentary but I have learnt ways to exercise sensibly and listen to my body. I no longer use exercise as a form of self-harm and I no longer feel like starving myself. I have been on an incredible journey since the documentary. Not only have I had the pleasure of meeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry but I have gained a fantastic network of support from the others who participated and now many people through social media. My puppy, Olly has also been a saviour. I picked him up in November last year and he has been brilliant for me. I now have responsibilities and he keeps me grounded. I know that I will never leave him or do anything to harm myself. He has also helped me get out of my ‘isolated’ state as I spend a lot of time out walking which encourages me to talk to people. I have a lot to thank him for.I manage my depression by being open with people. I see my GP on a regular basis and I am also still having counselling sessions. In May 2016, I started writing a journal which I am now.

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